Smith was "devastated by the loss of his good friend" Andre Bell, the Nuggets said in a statement today. Bell, 21, died yesterday at Jersey Shore University Medical Center in Neptune. He had been in a coma with head injuries after being thrown from Smith's sport-utility vehicle in the June 9 accident in Millstone Township, N.J.

Smith was also thrown from the vehicle and was hospitalized with a left shoulder injury, scratches and bruises.

Neither Smith, who lives in Millstone Township, nor Bell, of East Orange, New Jersey, were wearing seat belts at the time of the crash, the New Jersey State Police said. Smith was issued tickets for failure to stop at a stop sign and improper passing, police said.